The Criterion Collection

[dag]

I watched the Criterion SDs of both Yi Yi and Au Revoir les Enfants earlier this year. I especially found Yi Yi to be captivating. A very full film. It's about life. Different members of a family passing through various stages in their lives. Wonderful film and highly recommended.

[greekak229]

Just watched Modern Times for the first time on Blu. I can't believe I'm seeing this movie now. It was amazing. All I can say is I'm very glad I blind bought this, and I will be watching it many more times to come. What a fantastic film.

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

[Show spoiler]Since most people are wanting Lynch in the collection

I'm still saying that a Criterion release of Dumbland would be awesome.

Haven't heard of the blus announced today, but most of them sound interesting, and I actually really enjoy the cover art for all of them.

And, question. Since Criterion is very hush hush about what they are going to release until 3 months prior, what would they do if they were to release a new film? As in the only release of a film after leaving the theater? I wasn't around the Criterion world when Ben Button was released, but did they announce it way ahead of time? Or was the US population waiting in confusion as to why no release date was announced while it was still in theaters. I'd like to see Criterion release a film (nothing in particular in mind) as the only/main release. But I'm not sure if they could keep it under wraps long enough.


And last but not least, CC/Beta, which one of you saw 127 Hours? What did you think about it? I was completely, absolutely let down.

[Show spoiler]As soon as the movie started my high hopes were crushed. The split screen was just completely obnoxious. The font & typography in the intro credits were atrocious. The soundtrack was 100% inappropriate and ruined the tone/mood of the film. At least in my eyes. Everything was so sunny, happy, optimistic. I wish Boyle would have gone a lot darker with this film. When he was having his little melt down acting like it was a talk show...the stupid audience laughing was so unnecessary. I have no idea what he was trying to do with that, lighten the mood? Make it comical? I think a real depressing/paranoid/crazy scene would have fit a lot better. I loved the idea for the story, and I love James Franco, so to see how this film actually played out was a bummer. I hated the overabundance of super up close shots, not of James, but of all the items he had on him. So many upclose shots. And all the "inner" shots. From inside of the water bottle, inside of the camelback, inside of the video camera, annoying. Simply annoying. The transitions of shots, mainly whenever he snapped a picture and the still image should slide across the screen, was so...amateur? It seemed like an 8th grader fooling around in Power Point. The first person view from James's perspective were random and also annoying.

...so what were your thoughts?

[Trekkie313]

Originally Posted by whbinder

Whatchya got against "Naked"? That's been a fine release.



I love my Criterion LDs. Made in the days before fluff EPKs. The Game can be found on eBay pretty regularly. It's not too expensive.

You got Ghostbusters? I love my LaserDisc.

[trombone dixie]

Criterion absolutely NEEDS to release some David LYNCH!

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by trombone dixie

Criterion absolutely NEEDS to release some David LYNCH!

NEEDS would be if Lynch films can't be seen on a dvd release. I think your safe there. WANT would be another story.

Like, The Last Movie NEEDS Criterion to have a chance of any kind of release (DVD or BLU). I WANT Criterion to release The Holy Mountain, even though I can get a dvd of it.

BTW, I saw someone say Criterion passed up on releasing the Alejandro Jodorowsky collection (which can be had on Amazon, non-Criterion, but who cares). Interesting, would love to know why. Wasn't like Jodorowsky was someone who caught a cult status later on. I believe he had his group of fans since El Topo.

[Sabzi_Nic]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

With the single Malle title Criterion keeps their streak alive of not releasing on blu the full contents of any previously released dvd multi-film set.
(I'm not counting Yojimbo/Sanjuro or Monterey)
I mean seriously, it's great that the Malle film is coming out, but will they ever release a full set at once?
Renoir, Bergman, Dreyer, Cassavetes, Truffaut, Wajda, Varda, Teshigahara, Imamura, Rossellini, Sternberg and Costa all have such sets.
Will the streak ever be broken?
imo it will not.

Yea i don't like that...it looks incomplete that way. I dont know why they are doing this, release the whole box set on blu. I think I'd much rather just get the whole box set on dvd rather than the blu because I dont own the box set yet and I wish to.

[JediFonger]

having grown up in Taiwan, i'd have to say Yi Yi was awful. the pacing is slow just like 99% of most Taiwanese films.

ofc, that is not to say everything has to cut like 'MTV' or be manic. i am a huge fan of 'slow films' and my fav. era of films is silent films. the difference is doing slow intentionally and using it as part of the storytelling (like Tartovksy for example) is good. but doing it when you don't know how to tell a story using a camera, that is what most Taiwanese directors (includes Ang Lee while he was making Taiwanese films) have done and continue to do. they are just so inept at showing what needs to be done. it's also way too meditative.

the best Taiwanese film in recent memory would have to be Cape No. 7:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_No._7
check that out if you can obtain it, also on Blu-Ray. not as slow... but still drags.

[trombone dixie]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

NEEDS would be if Lynch films can't be seen on a dvd release. I think your safe there. WANT would be another story.

Like, The Last Movie NEEDS Criterion to have a chance of any kind of release (DVD or BLU). I WANT Criterion to release The Holy Mountain, even though I can get a dvd of it.

BTW, I saw someone say Criterion passed up on releasing the Alejandro Jodorowsky collection (which can be had on Amazon, non-Criterion, but who cares). Interesting, would love to know why. Wasn't like Jodorowsky was someone who caught a cult status later on. I believe he had his group of fans since El Topo.

I absolutely love this post. A month that contained releases by Lynch and Jodorowsky would be phenomenal... only in dreams I guess.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by trombone dixie

I absolutely love this post. A month that contained releases by Lynch and Jodorowsky would be phenomenal... only in dreams I guess.

For me, if a Jodorowsky or Hopper (insert Lynch for you) is released, they could have re-releases on top of already re-releases of "insert crappy films here" and it would still be the best month.

[SpiderBaby]

Question to all,

Fav Dusan Makavejev in the collection/Eclipse? And if I would have some money to spend, which should I get? I am thinking Sweet Movie, but would flip if it gets a blu release next year. I am protecting my $50 gift card more than I am cash.


And yes, never seen Sweet Movie. But don't give me this "ain't for everybody" crap. I've seen Salo. I've seen porn (who hasn't? Maybe Spielberg.). I've seen/own/love Paul Morrissey films (where trannys *that spelling doesn't look right and not going to google it* uses coke bottles for something other than drinking from.). I've seen Saving Private Ryan (the horror!). I've seen more "shocking" then Sweet Movie. So lay your favs on me.

[keldons]

Originally Posted by trombone dixie

I absolutely love this post. A month that contained releases by Lynch and Jodorowsky would be phenomenal... only in dreams I guess.

It's a bummer that King Shot, the film Jodorowsky was making with Lynch as co-producer, fell through. Would have been cool to see what came out of that arrangement.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by keldons

It's a bummer that King Shot, the film Jodorowsky was making with Lynch as co-producer, fell through. Would have been cool to see what came out of that arrangement.

I thought he is still trying, the last I heard. Outside of Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks, never was a HUGE fan of Lynch. But if he can help Jodorowsky to release a new film, more respect to him.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by keldons

It's a bummer that King Shot, the film Jodorowsky was making with Lynch as co-producer, fell through. Would have been cool to see what came out of that arrangement.

I'm still bummed that the 2 Lynch projects - Ronnie Rocket (with little man Michael Anderson) and One Saliva Bubble (with Steve Martin & Martin Short) - from the 90s never happened. The scripts for both are wacky.

[keldons]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

I thought he is still trying, the last I heard. Outside of Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks, never was a HUGE fan of Lynch. But if he can help Jodorowsky to release a new film, more respect to him.

"So with some excitement, here's Jodorowsky on the line to tell us about it: "It's not happening. They didn't find the money," he says in his thick South American accent."

As for Lynch, I always get a kick out of his stuff. The sort of success he's had in the mainstream while he sticks to his guns is pretty admirable. I enjoy all of his films (Minus Fire Walk With me, Dune, and Elephant Man, haven't seen them) so maybe I'm biased.

It would be cool if he could work something out with Criterion, but as was said, all of his films can be pretty easily found so no big deal if they don't.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by greekak229

Just watched Modern Times for the first time on Blu. I can't believe I'm seeing this movie now. It was amazing. All I can say is I'm very glad I blind bought this, and I will be watching it many more times to come. What a fantastic film.

Chaplin sings!....Well, sort of.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Not that it matters in the least bit, but if I listed the people that post in here that I care for and those that I don't care for would it help everyone to move on to something else?

CC

I know when I'm not wanted...

[rkish]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

Hello Mr. rkish. Haven't seen you in a day or 2 (atleast I don't think I have).

Hello CG!

I've been busy with family and trying to get the kids to bed, so that I could watch my NetFlix rental of "Brute Force"...first time viewing...REALLY enjoyed it.

Playing ctach up on the posts now...just 1100 more to go!

[rkish]

Originally Posted by aggienader08

You've been doin' some reading. That was a few pages ago, and a discussion I would've loved to keep going.

Once I get caught up Aggie...I'll be more than happy to imbibe!

[ShellOilJunior]

Has anyone ever been to criterion.com?

They have information on new releases, out-of-print titles, an FAQ and more. It seems most people aren't aware of the site.